First things first - Osoyoos Christian Centre welcomed Jussi and Leena this past Sunday. Leena joined in with worship while Jussi provided The Message. I'm afraid I won't do it justice trying to sum it up in words here so I won't even attempt it. Rather - here is his message in full (1 hour, so be sure to set some time aside!) Just click on the player and away you go!
Thank you, Jussi and Leena for stepping in this weekend and we eagerly await your move here and we know there are exciting things in our future!
~ Never let yesterday use up too much of today ~
"Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past.
Behold, I will do something new."
Isaiah 43:18-19
Guest speaker for OCC service February 7, 2010 is Al Johnson.
Guest speaker for OCC service February 14, 2010 is Stacy coming to us from our sister church Park Drive Pentecostal in Oliver.
*****
EVENTS:
Bible Study (Al Johnson)
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
7:00 pm
at Osoyoos Christian Centre
Phone Al if you need more information. 250-495-5133. Please be studying Psalm 115 in preparation. Bring your bible, pen and paper.
Women's Meeting
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Rose Johnson's house - 18 Larkspur Place
1:00 p.m.
We will be following along Part 5 of "Friendships of Women" audio podcasts. Bring along - a friend or two!
Valentine's Luncheon
Sunday, February 14th 2010
Osoyoos Christian Centre
I will call around in the next weeks to find out what you might bring to our celebration. Friends and family welcome!
*****
Ah - this is the month of love... according to the world. Hallmark is definitely counting on you thinking this too. Valentines day has become a huge industry. Its easy to get swept up in the worldly definitions of love.
Its always made me shake my head in wonder that flower shops make their biggest sales for "romantic bouquets" for occasions like this because for me personally though its ALWAYS nice to receive flowers or gifts from my husband - it means so very much more when it comes without any sort of prompting. And NEVER ever ever EVER for an apology.
I think its awful to get "I'm sorry" flowers - each time of seeing them would be a painful reminder of a wrong. And yet it seems this is how many men do their apologizing. My advice? Give a SINCERE apology in words only. Let your lips do the giving. Your heartfelt words (even if they are not eloquent or poetic) - your willingness to try to talk things out, will mean more than any flowers.
Later, without any special occasion declare your love in flowers to your wife. She will have much pride in explaining her bouquet as a "just because he loves me" when asked how she warrants them on a day other than Valentines Day, a birthday, anniversary, an "I'm sorry", marriage or ... funeral! (then you really are late...)
This sort of love spoken previous is the sort the world dwells on most but there are many meanings of the word love. The greek words for love are as follows:
AGAPE -is used in ancient texts to denote feelings for a good meal, one's children, and the feelings for a spouse. It can be described as the feeling of being content or holding one in high regard. Many have thought that this word represents divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love.
EROS - can be interpreted as a love for someone whom you love more than the philia, love of friendship. It can also apply to dating relationships as well as marriage.
PHILIA - includes loyalty to friends, family, and community, and requires virtue, equality and familiarity. In ancient texts, philos denoted a general type of love, used for love between family, between friends, a desire or enjoyment of an activity, as well as between lovers.
STORGE - It is natural affection, like that felt by parents for offspring. Rarely used in ancient works, and then almost exclusively as a descriptor of relationships within the family. It is also known to express mere acceptance or putting up with situations, as in "loving" the tyrant.
THELEMA - t is the desire to do something, to be occupied, or to be in prominence. In the Lord's prayer, "Let thy will be done" is Genetheto to thelema sou.
So, as you can see, real LOVE is so much more than a worldly celebration and its certainly something that is explored and expressed every moment of our lives. Something so much deeper. I challenge you use Valentine's day to open dialogue with people you know - to discuss these different types of love. Explore each of these different meanings in depth and discuss them with your spouse, family, friends.
What if you told EVERYONE you know you care about them this month? What if? I'm not asking you to be cheesy or fake or to manufacture flowery things to say but I am suggesting that if you were to pick out a few positive qualities about the people in your life you may be surprised at what comes back. It costs NOTHING and you won't be haunted by a "what if" scenario for we do not know the number of our days. I can say that jewels in my own memory are the few times that may father (who was an undemonstrative type) told me in words that he loved me.
**
I found these observations in a book called Love Life by Dr. Ed Wheat and I'd like to share them with you.
REAL LOVE is not mysterious or irrational.
REAL LOVE is not a simple, easy doing what comes natrually.
REAL LOVE is not an uncontrollable feeling.
REAL LOVE is not produced by trying to attract it.
I can understand what love is through the Word of God.
I can learn the art of loving.
I can choose to love.
I can produce love by giving it first and giving it wisely.
Love recognizes a unique value in the beloved.
Love chooses to affirm the value of the beloved always.
Love consistently does the best for the beloved.
Love is an active power to be controlled by the will.
Love is always a choice backed up by an action.
Love is costly even when the giving is pure joy.
**
~ Anyone can hate, but it costs to love ~
"Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:13
*****
I may not post here on this blog next week because it is Miles and I wedding anniversary and we will be taking ourselves off to celebrate! I may repost events or new news if I have it submitted to me - you may send your requests to occwomenonline@gmail.com
In honour of this month of love and in honour of strong marriages built on faith I am going to point you to a fabulous website which is a wonderful resource for marriages built in faith! I've really enjoyed this website which is choc-filled with great information and even audio for you to enjoy and its all provided to promote healthy marriages and strengthen you in faith! Just click on the picture to be taken to Growthtrack! (don't forget to sign up for their FREE newsletter!)
No comments:
Post a Comment